We Took the Stage at Techstars Tokyo Demo Day!
Our CEO, Kazuki Miyauchi, completed the three-month Techstars Tokyo Accelerator program and pitched Cascade on stage at Demo Day on November 11. We presented in front of approximately 500 attendees, and during the networking session after the pitch, many companies stopped by our booth. We were able to move several conversations forward toward concrete collaboration opportunities.
Why We Were Selected for Techstars Tokyo Accelerator
Techstars is a globally recognized accelerator that has supported many startups through programs around the world. This program is a public-private global acceleration initiative run in collaboration with JETRO, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In 2025, applications came from 120 countries and regions, with a screening process resulting in an acceptance rate of less than 1%. Twelve startups, including us, were selected. It was an intense three months of refining our product and business in that environment.
What Cascade Aims to Solve
Cascade is an AI-powered advertising optimization platform designed to support the complex workflows involved in ad operations—analysis, decision-making, and budget allocation. We aim to unify cross-channel metrics, clarify issues through conversational analysis, and enable teams to move seamlessly from insights to recommendations and budget reallocation.
Even though advertising is digital, ad operations are still highly labor-intensive in practice. That’s why we’re focused on building a product that reduces reliance on individual expertise and helps lean teams make decisions and improvements faster. That single goal has guided our development.
What We Gained from Demo Day
On Demo Day, the challenge was how clearly we could communicate—in a short pitch—who we serve, what problem we solve, and how we change the outcome. During the networking session afterward, we had the chance to compare notes with many companies on their real challenges and identify tangible opportunities to work together. That was a major takeaway for us.
Through the program, we also had many moments that made us think deeply about what it means for Japanese startups to compete globally. The more we discussed it, the stronger our commitment became over these three months to build a business that meets a global standard.
Thanks to Our Mentors
At Techstars Tokyo Accelerator, we received tremendous support from mentors who helped strengthen our business from a global perspective—especially Aldrich Huang, Svetlana Stotskaya, and Ron Drabkin. The feedback was tough but highly practical, and we feel it significantly improved both our product and our pitch.
We’re also deeply grateful to Yuki Shirato and the Techstars Tokyo operations team, as well as to JETRO and Mitsui Fudosan for organizing and supporting the program.
What’s Next for Cascade
Cascade is currently in beta and available to a limited group of users. We’re now moving toward an official launch in the near future. We’ll continue to share updates regularly—please follow us if you’d like to stay in the loop.
If you’d like to try the beta, explore Cascade while organizing your ad operations challenges together, or discuss potential partnerships, please feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you!
